Call on Congress: Support Major Public Transit Funding In The Emergency COVID-19 Aid Package

Public transit systems all over the country are at risk of laying off workers and cutting back service due to the pandemic. Will you take action here to call on Congress to include major support for public transit systems this week in its emergency COVID-19 aid package?

Right now Congress has the opportunity to save transit systems that are lifelines for essential workers – who we know are more likely to depend on public transit than other workers – and to make sure public transit can keep growing after the pandemic to build more livable and climate resilient communities. Take action here to call on Congress to provide emergency funding for public transit this week. Take action.

Congratulations 5Point Raffle Winners And Thank You All!

We are so grateful to everyone who contributed to MountainTrue through our 5Point Film Festival fundraiser this month. It was a great success in support of all our programs, and we hope you enjoyed the show as much as we did! Congratulations again to our raffle winners: Stephen Hendricks, Dan Comer, Penny Hooper, Diane Huey, Kimber Kessinger and Rachel Bemis. We hope you enjoy your sweet new gear from festival sponsors!

Read “A Black Naturalist’s Journal” By AmeriCorps Forest Keeper Coordinator Tamia Dame

We have two new blog posts up on our website by our AmeriCorps Forest Keeper Coordinator Tamia Dame, in which she explores intersections of anti-Black racism, communicating across political differences and the natural world. A brief excerpt:

“It’s raining, forcing me to reschedule a field day. On one hand I don’t mind, as this CP flare up probably means I need to rest. On the other hand, I find myself looking at the dozens of photos I’ve taken over the last weeks. Photos of deep forest, leaves, flowers, mushrooms, caterpillars, rivers, and of course mountain views. A video of a little red salamander (Pseudotriton ruber) shimmying itself under leaf litter, trying to hide itself from danger. I want to be outside, where the birds tune out the noise of society, even if only for a while.

Nature therapy, for me, has become a means for coping with the daily trauma we have collectively been witnessing, and disproportionately been experiencing.”

Read more of Tamia’s journal.

MountainTrue Is Hiring A Temporary Development And Operations Coordinator

We’re looking for a detail-oriented individual to join our Development team while one of our staff is on maternity leave. The position is responsible for processing donations, issuing donation acknowledgments and maintaining accurate data in the organization’s database. This is a four month position at 20 hours per week with a rate of pay of $18 per hour. Read more and apply. 

Help Make Our Region Better By Donating To MountainTrue Through Give!Local

Mountain Xpress’ Give!Local Guide showcases local nonprofit organizations that do good work in our region. By giving to MountainTrue through the Give!Local you can earn great incentives such as a MountainTrue hat, or a discount at Mast General Store. Check our listing out.

Central Regional News

For Buncombe, Madison, McDowell, Mitchell and Yancey counties

Update from French Broad Riverkeeper Hartwell Carson on Asheville’s Stormwater Task Force

After successfully advocating for a Stormwater Task Force to respond to Asheville’s chronic water quality problems this summer, the Task Force is now meeting regularly to improve water quality and flooding issues in the city. The Task Force has 10 members that are developing recommendations for the City of Asheville on green infrastructure, water quality in Nasty Branch, the stormwater ordinance and funding. We are also looking at examples of other communities across the state and country on how best to improve the pollution and flooding that has become common after rain events. We anticipate having some draft recommendations available to bring to Asheville City Council in the spring.

Close The Gap: Take A Step Forward for Asheville

The City of Asheville is updating the City’s Greenway (G), Accessibility (A), and Pedestrian (P) Plans. The combined plan, known as “Close the GAP”, will be the City’s plan to update and expand the network of accessible sidewalks and greenways in our community. MountainTrue endorses this project and we would like your help in supporting it. Please take the general Close the GAP survey and ADA Transition Plan survey (if you have a disability) and be a part of this exciting planning effort.

Take the Close the GAP survey.
Take the ADA Transition Plan survey.

High Country Regional News

For Alleghany, Ashe, Avery, Burke, Caldwell, Watauga and Wilkes counties

Update on Seven Devils Sewage Plant on the Watauga River

Thanks so much to all of you who stood up to protect the Watauga when a surprise vote about a new sewage plant in Seven Devils came up last week. Almost 500 people took action to contact the Seven Devils Town Council in only a few hours – the most incredible turnout we’ve ever had for an action like this in the High Country! While the Seven Devils Town Council voted 3-2 to approve the annexation Tuesday night, all the yes votes sounded reluctant, and I truly believe your public comments are what led to the vote being so close.

We have the chance to fight this project again when it goes to the Town Board of Adjustment for a vote. In the meantime, I hope you’ll get involved in other ways to protect the Watauga River, like signing up for live staking days to plant trees along river and stream banks and helping us sample for microplastics in the river. Stay tuned for upcoming volunteer opportunities on MountainTrue’s events calendar and Watauga Riverkeeper social media platforms.

Livestaking Dates Coming Up In February

Did you miss our livestaking events in November and December? Don’t worry, we have more work days planned for February! Sign up here to join us with planting on Feb 6.

How Many Microplastics Are In The Watauga?

Microplastics are found across the globe, infiltrating even the most pristine areas. We want to figure out just how many microplastics are in the Watauga River, but we need your help!

Interested in collecting water samples? Sign up here to join our volunteer online training January 20th at 2pm.

Call For Volunteers For Stream Monitoring Information Exchange (SMIE)

Our Stream Monitoring Information Exchange (SMIE) samples for aquatic bugs as bioindicators to gain information about water quality. The second round of SMIE sampling in April is approaching fast! If you are interested in sampling or learning more about this program, sign up to be the first to hear about the upcoming training.

Southern Regional News

For Cleveland, Henderson, Polk, Rutherford and Transylvania counties

Give Your Decorations a Second Life with Holiday Recycling in Henderson County!

MountainTrue is proud to host our annual holiday recycling event at Jackson Park, Ball Field #6 on Saturday, January 9 from 9 am to 2 pm. We’ll be collecting trees, wreaths, lights and cards. Just make sure to remove any decorations from your trees and wreaths before you drop them off.

Trees will be mulched on-site with help from Henderson County and City of Hendersonville staff, as well as a mulcher donated by King Hardware & Rental. You’ll have the option to take some mulch home with you – a great opportunity to turn your tree into nutritious mulch for your gardens, plants and veggies. Lights and cards will be recycled by the Henderson County CoOp Extension Service for the 4H Project. Read more.

Western Regional News

For Cherokee, Clay, Graham, Haywood, Jackson, Macon and Swain counties in NC, and Towns and Union counties in GA

Virtual Watershed Gala and Online Auction Fundraiser Taking Shape

Sara Ruth Posey won this highly coveted bonsai donated by Tim Ryan at the 2016 Gala auction.

Although we won’t be gathering in person next February for our traditional gala, we hope you’ll still plan to participate with us online as we celebrate our rivers, lakes and streams and honor those who provide us with leadership and inspiration along the way. Our team is working to make this event as much fun as it can be without being in each other’s physical company, and there’s no required $50 ticket this year, either. Plus, you’ll still want to support our Holman Water Quality Stewardship Award winner! Look for that announcement in January.

The 2021 Gala auction will be held completely online, and we’re counting on you to help make it a success! Bidding will open at 12 pm on February 15 and close on February 25 at 9 pm (after the Gala event). But before then, we need item donations! This is an excellent opportunity for artists, crafters, restaurants, wineries, breweries and other businesses to gain exposure across MountainTrue’s whole 26-county region. Contact me at callie@mountaintrue.org if you would like to donate an item or have an idea of one for us to recruit. Visit our Gala webpage for more event details and to sign up to be notified when the auction opens!

Caney Fork Creek at East LaPorte Park Will Be Shadier Next Summer

This November and December, MountainTrue’s Western Region Program Coordinator Tony Ward ordered, delivered and helped plant native trees and shrubs for three live staking workdays. This collaborative effort was funded by the TVA and led by American Rivers and Mainspring Conservation Trust, with other key partners including the Jackson County Parks & Recreation Department and the Watershed Association of the Tuckasegee River. Staff and volunteers from these organizations planted 160 trees and shrubs, and installed hundreds more live stakes of vegetation along Caney Fork Creek at East LaPorte Park on the Tuckasegee River. This project will cut down on streambank erosion, improve habitat at the water’s edge and provide shade to keep water temperatures cooler during the hot summer months. Learn more about live stakes.

Events & Volunteer Opportunities

Jan. 9: Give your Christmas Tree, Lights & Holiday Cards a Second Life in Hendersonville
MountainTrue is proud to host our annual holiday recycling event at Jackson Park, Ball Field #6 on Saturday, January 9 from 9 am to 2 pm. This is a great opportunity to turn your tree into nutritious mulch for your gardens, plants and veggies.

Jan. 12: MountainTrue University: Restoring Island Park
Join us January 12 at 1 pm to hear Tony Ward, MountainTrue’s Western Region Program Coordinator, discuss his role in helping to restore Island Park in Bryson City. The project is a partnership between the town of Bryson City, the Tuckasegee River Alliance and MountainTrue.

Jan. 19: Winter Tree ID Zoom Class
Join MountainTrue’s very own Public Lands Field Biologist, Josh Kelly, for our Winter Tree ID workshop. This class will cover the concepts you’ll need to successfully identify trees in the Southern Appalachians, no matter your experience level!

Jan. 20: Microplastics Sampling Program Training for the Watauga
Microplastics (a term for tiny pieces of plastic) are found all across the globe, infiltrating even the most pristine areas. Help us figure out how present microplastics are in the Watauga River and get trained to collect water samples with us.

Jan. 23: Winter Tree ID Hike at Big Laurel Creek Trail
Join MountainTrue’s Public Lands Field Biologist Josh Kelly for our Winter Tree ID Workshop Hike at Big Laurel Creek Trail. This hike is open to aspiring tree identifiers of all skill levels.

Feb. 6: Live Staking Workday in Sugar Grove
Fight sediment pollution and erosion with Watauga Riverkeeper Andy Hill by planting live stakes along streams and river banks.

Join MountainTrue this #GivingTuesday for a very special virtual screening of the 5Point Adventure Film Festival! We’ll be screening a selection of inspiring films from the 2020 Festival.

5Point Film Festival is built on five guiding principles: respect, commitment, humility, purpose and balance, and the belief that we can all be ambassadors of the environment. The festival inspires us to explore wild places and return with a renewed vigor to protect our natural world. Proceeds from the event support our conservation work. 
Get your tickets and enter to win our raffle.

MountainTrue Co-Director Julie Mayfield Elected To NC State Senate

MountainTrue’s Co-Director Julie Mayfield has won her race to represent Senate District 49 in the North Carolina State Senate. In a letter to our members, Julie explains what this means for the organization, her work schedule and our legislative advocacy work. Read more.

Public Lands Are More Popular Than Ever, And They Need Your Help

2020 has brought record visitation to public lands in our region, with many of the people visiting these lands doing so for the first time. While the new wave of interest is exciting, the crowds and all the newcomers have also brought growing pains in the form of overflowing parking lots, trash bins, and piles of litter. MountainTrue’s Public Lands Field Biologist, Josh Kelly, shares some ideas in this blog post about how we can all encourage newcomers to be better stewards of our public lands. Read more.

Take Action: Stand Up For Solar Power In Western North Carolina

A proposal to build a large-scale solar farm on top of a retired landfill in Woodfin is in jeopardy. Will you call on the NC Utilities Commission to approve this important clean energy project?

To meet the challenge of climate change, we need North Carolina to move forward on large-scale renewable energy projects like this solar farm, and quickly. This will bring the benefits of new solar energy directly to our community: new solar jobs, reducing local carbon emissions and making real progress on our renewable energy goals. At the same time, building solar on low-value land like a landfill preserves other land for new affordable housing, tree canopy, public spaces and other highly sought after uses in our region. Learn more about the Woodfin solar farm proposal and take action to support it here!

Buy Locally From Sustainable Farmers This Holiday Season

As we approach the holiday season, it’s a good time to think about where that turkey, pork, or beef comes from that will round out our family meals. In this post, Broad Riverkeeper David Caldwell discusses how farming practices have changed over time and how we can be more conscientious about where we buy this year’s holiday feast.
Read more and find your local, sustainable farmers.

High Country Regional News

For Alleghany, Ashe, Avery, Burke, Caldwell, Watauga and Wilkes counties

Live Staking Workdays Resume

Live staking volunteers plant live cuttings of trees and shrubs to reduce sediment pollution.

Fall brings warmer colors and cooler weather to our mountains. It also ushers in our live staking season – the time of year when we plant live cuttings of dormant trees along stream banks. In the spring, these cuttings grow into trees that help prevent soil erosion, filter stormwater runoff and create vital aquatic habitat.

Each year, we set a goal for ourselves to plant 10,000 trees along stream and riverbanks in the Watauga River Watershed. Will you join an upcoming work day to help make the Watauga River more resilient? Visit our events page at mountaintrue.org to sign up.

Southern Regional News

For Cleveland, Henderson, Polk, Rutherford and Transylvania counties

Paddlers Hemlock Health Action Taskforce (PHHAT) Is Back In Action!

The experienced paddlers of the PHHAT team head down the Green River to treat hemlock trees.

MountainTrue’s Green Riverkeeper Gray Jernigan, in partnership with Hemlock Restoration Initiative, American Whitewater and NC Wildlife Resources Commission, is back to work with the Padders Hemlock Health Action Taskforce (PHHAT) to help preserve hemlock trees in the Green River Gorge. These trees are under threat due to the deadly hemlock woolly adelgid, but can be saved with proper treatment. The PHHAT team treats hemlock trees in the steepest areas of the Green River Game Lands, which are unreachable by foot and require the special skills of paddlers to access them by water.

If you are an experienced whitewater paddler and would like to join the PHHAT team, our last work day this fall will be on the Upper Green River this Sunday, November 22, from 10 AM to 4 PM. Please email gray@mountaintrue.org to RSVP. PHHAT will host more work days next spring.

SMIE Biomonitoring Season Finished Strong Despite Challenges

SMIE volunteers inspect water bugs to gauge the health of our rivers and streams.

Over 30 volunteers in MountainTrue’s Southern Region conducted Stream Monitoring Information Exchange (SMIE) sampling at 24 sites this fall, including two new sites in the Broad River Watershed. SMIE is a program where community scientists sample streams for water bugs, which tell us important information about the health of these aquatic ecosystems. Despite the organizing challenges posed by the pandemic and extra precautions necessary to keep everyone safe, our volunteers rallied to get it done. SMIE sampling is conducted twice a year in the spring and fall. Keep your eye out for this volunteer opportunity in spring of 2021!

Western Regional News

For Cherokee, Clay, Graham, Haywood, Jackson, Macon and Swain counties in NC, and Towns and Union counties in GA

1.8 Tons of Trash Removed From Lake Chatuge Shoreline

Longtime cleanup participant Benjamin Davis won the prize for most creative photo from this year’s cleanup!

More than 50 volunteers showed up for MountainTrue’s 10th Annual Lake Chatuge Shoreline Cleanup on November 7. Together, we were able to clean up 1.8 tons of trash from the lake’s shoreline. That brings our 10-year total to nearly 14 tons of trash! We especially appreciate the participation of the Rotary Club of Lake Chatuge-Hiawassee and Cub Scout Pack 407.

In addition to our wonderful volunteers, we couldn’t be successful in this effort without the valuable contributions of our partners. Tennessee Valley Authority provided bags, gloves and grant sponsorship, the US Forest Service Blue Ridge Ranger District provided the big dump truck and driver, and Towns County Government provided the pavilion and disposed of all the trash for free.

Join Us On December 12 To Help Control Invasive Plants At Island Park in Bryson City

Photo caption: Severing vines of kudzu, oriental bittersweet and honeysuckle is the first step to controlling non-native invasive plants at Island Park.

Have you ever wanted to learn how to get rid of kudzu? Do you enjoy working with your hands and helping our public lands? Then we have a volunteer opportunity for you. MountainTrue has joined forces with the Tuckasegee River Alliance to eradicate non-native invasive plants at Bryson City’s Island Park, which is currently closed to the public pending storm damage repairs.

This beautiful island in the Tuckasegee River hosts a riparian forest with some very large trees. However, infestations of non-native invasive plants threaten its biological diversity. Join us on Saturday, December 12 from 11 am to 2 pm to learn how to identify and control non-native invasive plants and help bring native plants back to Island Park! No prior experience is necessary, and tools and training will be provided. Email Tony Ward, MountainTrue’s Western Region Program Coordinator, with any questions. 
Register here for the Island Park Invasive Plant Volunteer Work Session!

Native Trees And Shrubs Improve Water Quality

Volunteers plant native trees and shrubs along a small stream at the Georgia Mountain Research & Education Center in January 2019.

More than 50 of you purchased native trees and shrubs at our Annual Native Tree and Shrub sale this year, raising $3,000 to support our work protecting riparian buffers in the Western Region!

The native trees and shrubs that make up our riparian buffers are key components to healthy streams, rivers and lakes. Streamside riparian buffers provide a wide variety of functions, including filtering pollution from runoff, trapping excess soil and taking up nutrients. As a result, these buffers keep water temperatures cooler, prevent erosion and loss of land and provide food and shelter for wildlife. MountainTrue staff and volunteers spend a good deal of time removing non-native invasive plants along streams and lake shorelines to ensure that the native vegetation stays healthy and protects water quality.

Not only do the proceeds from the native tree and shrub sale support this work, but the trees purchased are also a great way for landowners to improve their own stream, river and lake fronts. The dormant season (November-March) is the best time to plant woody trees and shrubs so that they can develop a strong root system before putting energy into flowers, leaves and fruit in the spring.
Watch this short video to learn the proper way to plant your potted tree or shrub!

Events & Volunteer Opportunities

Dec. 1: Virtual 5Point Adventure Film Festival Screening
Join us this #GivingTuesday for a virtual film festival full of inspiring short films about outdoor adventurers and the planet they love. Proceeds support the work of MountainTrue.

Dec. 10: Virtual Hendersonville Green Drinks: Recycling – What Can And Can’t Be Recycled, And Why!
Christine Wittmeier, the Environmental Programs Coordinator for Henderson County, will discuss the ins and outs of recycling and how “wishful recycling can cause big problems for recycling programs.”

Dec. 12: High Country Live Staking Work Day In Sugar Grove
Fight sediment pollution and erosion with Watauga Riverkeeper Andy Hill by planting live stakes along streams and river banks.

Dec. 12: Island Park Invasive Plant Work Day In Bryson City
Help restore the native habitat of Island Park with MountainTrue and the Tuckasegee River Alliance.

Dec. 16: MountainTrue University: Rethinking Smart Growth
Join Chris Joyell of the Asheville Design Center as he tackles difficult questions about whether smart growth accelerates gentrification.